Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-12-16

To decorate ones living rooms for Christ
mas day is TO create a summer beauty all
about one for the winter days until the
Lenten season, when it is customary to re
move all the greenery and every evidence
of the old year panophes uf growth and
beauty. Wreaths of hemlock or cedar. and
crosses, stars and double or single triangles
of greencry. are made over loops or upon
light forms of thin wood fastened together
A hanging of southern moss caught to these
pretty decorations is handsome aud sugges-
tive its gray, beard like fibre hints at the
great age of our earth, while the green
above speaks of the perpetual youth, boun-
ty and freshness of the good will which this
day inspires. These evergreen ornaments
need not he hung IN the windows, but upon
the doors and above them and over or be
meath engravings and etchimgs, or they may
he prettily wreathed about PLAQUES. The
holly garland is generally conceded to he
the most beautiful of all, but it is not read
lily attainable and is often expensive When
sprays only of it are procuruhle, they may
he effectively utilized by tyimg "A cluster Of
foliage with berries upon II wreath at the
point where 1t is suspended, or, perhaps,
upon the lowest part of its curve. OF lalI-
rel we have greater quantity, and to sup
ply the lack Of scarlet berries the red seed
cells of the wild or single rose that have
been gathered in midsummer, or the berries
OF the bitter sweet, may he caught by flow
er wire to the laurel with most gratifying
results. Sometimes the green parts of the
laurel leaves are clipped away and the cen
tire fibre of the leaf, slightly shortened, is
thrust into hole punctured in the red Der
ry. This device lends an added gayety to
II wreath, aud especially to large laurel
L., Il, . l...t l.. / ~
of the room. Jars filled with sand are con
venient places To plant the stems of these
hOughs. White everlasting may hc prettilv
wreathed or arranged in u cross, star or
an anchor TO hang beneath the portraits of
those who are no more to gather about the
Christmas board. These suggestive flowers
may also he effectively intermingled in many
other decorations
Autumn leaves may be thrust into ropes
or cords of green that are suspended in fes-
toona or borders about the room, wound
around easels, twisted about picture wires
or disposed in some other effective way.
Perhaps the most attractive ornamental
ton is IA dOOrma of solid green with the
words Good VIII, "A Merry Christmas"
or Welcome outlined upon it with bitter
sweet berries or white, pink or yellow ever
lasting flowers. The mat is made by sew
ing pIlHcesN pune OF any UeNlble green To a
coarse cloth or hurlaps of the desired size :
it is then tackled at its edges to "A board or
sewed 10 a mat, and placed in the hall or
outside the threshold during Christmas dav.
When a Christmas-tree is placed at one side
of the room, the mat is often laid in front
of it.
For the table many pretty devices are
easily prepared A half wreath the size of
the outer edges of dining plate may be
made of holly or laurel leaves. Arrange
in crescent shape, with the leaves pointed
toward each tip of the horn place one leaf
at each end and gradually broaden toward
the centre, at which place a bunch Of scar
let berries or a red hot house rose may be
placed. The wreaths should lie flat and
quite close TO the plate, with the points TO-
ward the person the effect will be charm
ing, especially if the tableware be white.
buit or brown. Sometimes AN entire wreath
is made to encircle each plate and red rib
hon bow is tied at the side next the centre
of the table or tiny bunch of holly, "a
which is attached by narrow satin ribbon a
Christmas card with AN appropriate inscrip
ton, may he laid beside each plate. -D riii-
rdfOr.